Compare towns
Lee vs Dalton vs Salisbury vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Deerfield has the highest household income ($106k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Lee | Dalton | Salisbury | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
6,256Highest |
5,656 |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
51±6.9 28% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
| Deerfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$465,900±$31kHighest 17% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Salisbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$4,561 24% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 38% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #209 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Central Berkshire | — | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Wahconah Regional High | — | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
10.9 |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.